Polymeric Implantable Device Housing with Sealed Container
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Solution Overview
Problem
Implantable medical devices, such as pacemakers, face challenges with expensive materials like titanium for hermetically sealed housings, which are costly and not suitable for short-term use, and existing solutions fail to effectively prevent fluid ingress and electromagnetic interference (EMI) using less expensive polymeric materials.
Innovation Solution
The use of a polymeric housing with a sealed container within the device, where the electronic assembly and battery are electrically connected, and conductors extend through the container to connect with external components, providing a cost-effective solution that prevents fluid ingress and shields against EMI.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If titanium is used for hermetically sealed housing, then fluid ingress prevention is improved, but device cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is divided into two functional segments: an outer polymeric housing that provides structural support and cost benefits, and an inner sealed container that provides hermetic sealing. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in its strength while avoiding the cost of titanium for the entire housing structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The device employs a composite structure combining polymeric materials for the housing with a separate sealed container system. This composite approach leverages the cost advantages of polymers while incorporating hermetic sealing capabilities through the nested container design, avoiding the need for expensive titanium materials throughout.
2Ease of manufacture
If polymeric materials are used for housing, then device cost decreases, but EMI shielding capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The sealed container is nested within the polymeric housing, creating a nested structure where the inner container provides EMI shielding and the outer housing provides structural support. This nesting allows the cheaper polymeric material to serve dual purposes while the inner container addresses EMI concerns.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealed container acts as an intermediary element between the electronic components and the external environment, providing EMI shielding and hermetic sealing functions that the polymeric housing alone cannot provide, while allowing the overall device to use cost-effective polymeric materials.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If polymeric materials are used for housing, then EMI shielding is improved through design, but fluid ingress prevention capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The sealed container is nested within the polymeric housing, with the inner container specifically designed to provide hermetic sealing against fluid ingress while the outer housing provides EMI shielding. This nested arrangement allows each layer to address its specific protective function.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective functions are segmented into two separate components: the polymeric housing handles EMI shielding and structural support, while the inner sealed container handles fluid ingress prevention. This functional segmentation allows optimization of each component for its specific purpose.
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments of an implantable medical device and a system that includes such device are disclosed. The device includes a housing that includes a polymeric material, a sealed container disposed within the housing, and an electronic assembly disposed within the container. The device also includes a battery disposed within the container and electrically connected to the electronic assembly.